Mountain West · 2026

North Dakota State Bison

Head coach Tim Polasek · Fargodome
7-24-2 in conference
TDC Rank
#72
of 138 FBS teams
Rating
+0.1
pts vs avg FBS team
Offense
-3.2
90th in FBS
Defense
+3.3
44th in FBS
Schedule so far
-13.4
132nd toughest
Projected
9.5-2.5
bowl-eligible >99%

Season Outlook

From the TDC Rating, updated after every game

Rating by week

+0.1 now, -1.4 preseason · down 4 spots since preseason
0FBS avgPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9#72

Final record odds

9.5-2.5 expected · most likely 10-2 (54%)
8%8-438%9-354%10-2

Schedule

Game score = the rating that one result implies, after adjusting for opponent and venue

WkDateOpponentResult / TDC lineGame scoreWin chanceTV
1Aug 29vs95Jacksonville StateW 33–7 ›+13.8—CBSSN
1Sep 5vsFordham FCSW 38–0 ›-12.5—MW+
2Sep 12@85Air ForceCONFW 38–32 ›+4.4—FS1
3Sep 19@138Sacramento StateW 31–10 ›-2.7—ESPN
4—Bye
5Oct 3vs120WyomingCONFW 28–0 ›+6.8—CW
6Oct 10@88UNLVCONFL 7–13 ›-8.2—CW
7Oct 17vs103NevadaCONFW 31–17 ›0.0—CBSSN
8Oct 24@48New MexicoCONFL 16–21 ›+4.5—CW
9Oct 31vs137UTEPCONFW 31–7 ›-5.2—MW+
10—Bye
11Nov 14@109Hawai'iCONFNorth Dakota State −7.9 · o/u 43.8—70%CW
12Nov 21vs133Northern IllinoisCONFNorth Dakota State −25.7 · o/u 49.1—96%CW
13Nov 27@123San José StateCONFNorth Dakota State −12.1 · o/u 41.6—79%CBSSN

Team Stats

Hover an advanced stat for what it means. Box-score totals include FCS games and aren't opponent-adjusted

StatOffenseFBS rankDefense (allowed)FBS rank
EPA · per play, garbage time excluded (CollegeFootballData.com)
EPA / play+0.10586th-0.1343rd
Success rate40.1%99th35.1%16th
Explosiveness1.29049th1.12716th
Play-by-play advanced · garbage time excluded (computed from every play)
Success rate39.9%107th35.1%14th
Rushing success rate39.1%112th36.9%24th
Passing success rate40.9%79th32.6%4th
Explosive run rate13.4%76th11.8%47th
Explosive pass rate12.2%35th7.6%24th
Line yards / carry3.0390th2.9456th
Opportunity rate38.8%73rd36.9%62nd
Stuff rate18.9%99th20.9%31st
Sack rate3.9%37th7.6%22nd
3rd-down conversion43.1%51st38.5%62nd
Red-zone TD rate64.0%60th46.7%22nd
Havoc rate13.6%73rd17.9%9th
Box score · season totals
Points / game28.172nd11.92nd
Yards / game351.8101st248.82nd
Yards / play5.29100th4.2210th
Pass yards / game194.3105th124.42nd
Yards / pass att.7.4073rd5.544th
Completion %63.1%66th55.0%12th
Rush yards / game157.469th124.339th
Yards / carry4.0094th3.6041st
3rd-down conv. %39.7%73rd34.2%38th
Turnovers / game (lost · forced)1.0035th2.005th
Sacks / game (allowed · made)1.2223rd1.8980th
Penalty yards / game58.180th59.947th

Charting

Where the ball goes, read from the play-by-play: air yards, yards after the catch, run direction, pressure and tempo. Ranks run highest to lowest

Avg. depth of throw
10.1
23rd of 138
YAC per catch
4.4
123rd of 138
Deep shots (20+)
19%
17th of 138
Shotgun
76%
129th of 138
No-huddle
10%
128th of 138
QB pressured
11%
103rd of 138 (1st = most)
Defense: pressure rate
22%
5th of 138
Defense: YAC allowed
3.6
137th of 138 (1st = most)

Offense: where it throws226 throws charted

63% comp10.1 avg. depth4.4 YAC/catch19% 20+ air yds13–8 TD–INT
101020203030LOSLeft, Behind air yards: 13 throws (6%), 13 caught (100%), 48 yds, 3.7 per throw13100% · 48yLeft, 0–4 air yards: 26 throws (12%), 17 caught (65%), 80 yds, 3.1 per throw2665% · 80yLeft, 5–9 air yards: 16 throws (7%), 10 caught (63%), 95 yds, 5.9 per throw1663% · 95yLeft, 10–14 air yards: 8 throws (4%), 4 caught (50%), 60 yds, 7.5 per throw850% · 60yLeft, 15–19 air yards: 3 throws (1%), 3 caught (100%), 50 yds, 16.7 per throw3100% · 50yLeft, 20–29 air yards: 11 throws (5%), 6 caught (55%), 169 yds, 15.4 per throw1155% · 169yLeft, 30+ air yards: 11 throws (5%), 6 caught (55%), 238 yds, 21.6 per throw1155% · 238yMiddle, Behind air yards: 1 throws (0%), 0 caught (0%), 0 yds, 0.0 per throw10% · 0yMiddle, 0–4 air yards: 6 throws (3%), 4 caught (67%), 61 yds, 10.2 per throw667% · 61yMiddle, 5–9 air yards: 5 throws (2%), 4 caught (80%), 28 yds, 5.6 per throw580% · 28yMiddle, 10–14 air yards: 12 throws (5%), 6 caught (50%), 84 yds, 7.0 per throw1250% · 84yMiddle, 15–19 air yards: 4 throws (2%), 3 caught (75%), 54 yds, 13.5 per throw475% · 54yMiddle, 20–29 air yards: 1 throws (0%), 1 caught (100%), 48 yds, 48.0 per throw1100% · 48yMiddle, 30+ air yards: 3 throws (1%), 0 caught (0%), 0 yds, 0.0 per throw30% · 0yRight, Behind air yards: 18 throws (8%), 18 caught (100%), 130 yds, 7.2 per throw18100% · 130yRight, 0–4 air yards: 29 throws (13%), 21 caught (72%), 130 yds, 4.5 per throw2972% · 130yRight, 5–9 air yards: 27 throws (12%), 18 caught (67%), 161 yds, 6.0 per throw2767% · 161yRight, 10–14 air yards: 12 throws (5%), 5 caught (42%), 69 yds, 5.8 per throw1242% · 69yRight, 15–19 air yards: 5 throws (2%), 2 caught (40%), 36 yds, 7.2 per throw540% · 36yRight, 20–29 air yards: 6 throws (3%), 3 caught (50%), 70 yds, 11.7 per throw650% · 70yRight, 30+ air yards: 9 throws (4%), 3 caught (33%), 114 yds, 12.7 per throw933% · 114y
fewer more throws
Direction and air yards come from the play-by-play (left / middle / right thirds of the field), so each glow sits in its zone rather than on an exact spot. Hover a zone for detail.

Defense: where it's thrown on186 throws charted

55% comp8.9 avg. depth3.6 YAC/catch13% 20+ air yds4–14 TD–INT
101020203030LOSLeft, Behind air yards: 16 throws (9%), 13 caught (81%), 20 yds, 1.3 per throw1681% · 20yLeft, 0–4 air yards: 9 throws (5%), 6 caught (67%), 31 yds, 3.4 per throw967% · 31yLeft, 5–9 air yards: 12 throws (6%), 7 caught (58%), 63 yds, 5.3 per throw1258% · 63yLeft, 10–14 air yards: 6 throws (3%), 4 caught (67%), 51 yds, 8.5 per throw667% · 51yLeft, 15–19 air yards: 3 throws (2%), 0 caught (0%), 0 yds, 0.0 per throw30% · 0yLeft, 20–29 air yards: 7 throws (4%), 4 caught (57%), 114 yds, 16.3 per throw757% · 114yLeft, 30+ air yards: 1 throws (1%), 0 caught (0%), 0 yds, 0.0 per throw10% · 0yMiddle, Behind air yards: 1 throws (1%), 1 caught (100%), -3 yds, -3.0 per throw1100% · -3yMiddle, 0–4 air yards: 16 throws (9%), 10 caught (63%), 72 yds, 4.5 per throw1663% · 72yMiddle, 5–9 air yards: 22 throws (12%), 16 caught (73%), 147 yds, 6.7 per throw2273% · 147yMiddle, 10–14 air yards: 11 throws (6%), 9 caught (82%), 138 yds, 12.5 per throw1182% · 138yMiddle, 15–19 air yards: 9 throws (5%), 4 caught (44%), 81 yds, 9.0 per throw944% · 81yMiddle, 20–29 air yards: 5 throws (3%), 3 caught (60%), 68 yds, 13.6 per throw560% · 68yMiddle, 30+ air yards: 2 throws (1%), 0 caught (0%), 0 yds, 0.0 per throw20% · 0yRight, Behind air yards: 11 throws (6%), 6 caught (55%), 25 yds, 2.3 per throw1155% · 25yRight, 0–4 air yards: 10 throws (5%), 8 caught (80%), 48 yds, 4.8 per throw1080% · 48yRight, 5–9 air yards: 19 throws (10%), 10 caught (53%), 78 yds, 4.1 per throw1953% · 78yRight, 10–14 air yards: 10 throws (5%), 1 caught (10%), 18 yds, 1.8 per throw1010% · 18yRight, 15–19 air yards: 8 throws (4%), 5 caught (63%), 94 yds, 11.8 per throw863% · 94yRight, 20–29 air yards: 6 throws (3%), 2 caught (33%), 57 yds, 9.5 per throw633% · 57yRight, 30+ air yards: 2 throws (1%), 0 caught (0%), 0 yds, 0.0 per throw20% · 0y
fewer more throws
Direction and air yards come from the play-by-play (left / middle / right thirds of the field), so each glow sits in its zone rather than on an exact spot. Hover a zone for detail.

Offense: run direction330 carries

Left
24%
4.2 YPC · 39% succ.
Middle
48%
4.5 YPC · 41% succ.
Right
28%
5.1 YPC · 48% succ.
Share of carries by direction, as the play-by-play calls it. Success: 5+ yards on 1st/2nd down, 3+ on 3rd/4th, or a touchdown. QB scrambles excluded.

Defense: runs faced278 carries

Left
23%
4.4 YPC · 41% succ.
Middle
50%
4.6 YPC · 42% succ.
Right
27%
4.5 YPC · 40% succ.
Share of carries by direction, as the play-by-play calls it. Success: 5+ yards on 1st/2nd down, 3+ on 3rd/4th, or a touchdown. QB scrambles excluded.

Pressure = the QB was hurried or sacked, as the play-by-play records it (it misses some, so compare teams rather than reading it as an exact rate). Every snap counts, including garbage time and FCS games.

Roster

100 players · Head coach Tim Polasek

100 players
#PlayerPos▲ClassHtWtHometown
0Preston BrownQBSO6' 1"215Festus, MO
2Nathan HayesQBSR6' 3"228West Chicago, IL
10Trey DrakeQBJR6' 3"213Jamestown, NY
13Zander SmithQBFR6' 3"225Lakeland, FL
16Henry NelsonQBFR6' 3"210Meridian, ID
4Nyeoti PunniRBSR6' 1"225Lebanon, NH
5Myles MitchellRBFR5' 9"205Chicago, IL
7DJ ScottRBJR5' 11"215Oviedo, FL
22Charles Ross IIIRBFR5' 9"200Kansas City, MO
25Godson Rufus-OkomhanruRBFR6' 0"187Mounds View, MN
28Cortez LeGrantRBJR5' 10"200Sun Prairie, WI
32Barry KpeenuRBSO5' 10"205West Fargo, ND
34Jonathan HarveyRBSR5' 10"200Mahtomedi, MN
45Gatlin EmpeyFBFR6' 1"235Stoughton, WI
3Jeremiah PattersonWRSR5' 9"175San Francisco, CA
11Jordan McCantsWRSR5' 11"190Birmingham, AL
12Myles EllisWRFR5' 9"160Flossmoor, IL
15Mekhi CollinsWRSR6' 4"215North Mankato, MN
17Isiah St. RomainWRSO6' 0"200Williston, ND
19John GoresWRSR5' 6"175Fargo, ND
20Drake SchlosserWRFR6' 1"195Stanley, ND
21Chris KielWRFR5' 11"205Mount Horeb, WI
23Kye SchlichtingWRFR6' 3"201Horace, ND
27Joaquin JordanWRFR6' 3"196Homewood, IL
80Jacob KilzerWRSO6' 3"205Maple Grove, MN
82SJ GreenWRFR5' 10"185Tampa, FL
83Cade OstermanWRJR6' 1"192Elk River, MN
84Logan ConklinWRSO6' 4"205Minot, ND
89Tochi OkoroWRJR6' 3"195Dodge City, KS
9Gabriel CunninghamTEFR6' 3"242Wentzville, MO
43Cash DannerTEFR6' 5"235Thompson, ND
44Luke KokatTESR6' 3"250Sturtevant, WI
49Colten GundersonTEFR6' 7"240Savage, MN
81Reis KesselTESO6' 5"245Fargo, ND
87Noah NelsonTEFR6' 5"240Hawley, MN
88Isaac EllisonTEFR6' 4"225Menomonie, WI
96Abraham MyersTEJR6' 2"250Sioux Falls, SD
55Kene AneneOLSO6' 5"310Cottage Grove, MN
63Trey McPartlandOLFR6' 5"285Valley City, ND
67Earl BrownOLFR6' 5"310Pillager, MN
75Josh MaginOTSR6' 6"308Shakopee, MN
76Ryan BabatzOTSO6' 5"315Montrose, MN
77Austin SchultzOTJR6' 4"305Moorhead, MN
78Noah StommesOTSO6' 6"300Richmond, MN
61Gage SchmidtCSO6' 3"300North Mankato, MN
0Victor IseleDEJR6' 2"260Grand Island, NE
9Kelton McCaslinDESR6' 5"250St. Charles, IL
11Matthew StenbrotenDESO6' 4"250Lake Mills, WI
48Blake SchiltzDEFR6' 2"250Pine Island, MN
56Allante BurleyDESR6' 3"240Lawrenceville, GA
90Truman GriffithDESO6' 2"260Shawnee, KS
92Daniel DevineDEFR6' 4"245Saint Paul, MN
93Anthony OkesDEJR6' 3"260Great Falls, MT
53Chase EvinkDTFR6' 5"285Hancock, MN
58Zach HellendrungDTFR6' 3"275Boyceville, WI
60Thomas RobertsDTFR6' 4"275Albion, NE
64Jason HunterDTFR6' 5"265Fargo, ND
65Brody ClubbDTFR6' 3"290Tiffin, IA
94Logan LarsonDTSR6' 3"290Woodbury, MN
98Jack HansenDTSO6' 3"282Eagan, MN
99Obald NiyonkuruDTJR5' 11"290Altoona, IA
3Gavin SellLBFR6' 2"230Woodville, WI
25Ray James Jr.LBSO6' 2"240Eden Prairie, MN
35Ryland SatterLBSO6' 1"235Sioux Falls, SD
38Ben ScheppLBFR6' 1"210Velva, ND
41Peder HaugoLBSO6' 1"230Fargo, ND
42Alex ElliottLBJR6' 2"220Hutchinson, MN
44Carter ApplLBFR6' 2"215Menasha, WI
50Damian DevineLBFR6' 3"230Saint Paul, MN
55Oliver LuchtLBJR6' 1"228Fargo, ND
2EJ DavisCBSO6' 1"190Orlando, FL
4Najee NelsonCBJR5' 11"197Lakeville, MN
16Marion MooreCBFR5' 11"190Madison, WI
19Will RosenmeyerCBSO6' 0"188Highlands Ranch, CO
23Kegan HuberCBSR6' 0"190Lake Geneva, WI
24Kobe RussellCBFR6' 1"197Prescott, WI
28Kendrick CarterCBFR5' 10"179Dallas, TX
31Q BarnslaterCBFR6' 0"170Burnsville, MN
32Brayden DozierCBFR6' 0"189Maple Grove, MN
34Deron RussellCBFR6' 1"180Waseca, MN
6Jaylin CrumbySJR5' 11"200Tampa, FL
13Mikhale FordSFR5' 11"190Lincoln, NE
14Taylen EadySSO6' 0"205Toano, VA
20Will SteilSSO6' 2"205Cold Spring, MN
22Hudson ArtzSSR6' 0"205Fairmont, MN
26Evrett TaitSFR6' 0"205Chippewa Falls, WI
27Landon MeierSSO5' 11"195Fargo, ND
29Darius GivanceSSR6' 2"215Champlin, MN
30Jaylen ArchibaldSFR6' 1"205Frisco, TX
33Walker BraatenSFR6' 3"190Westhope, ND
37Drew KleinPKSR5' 9"185Hortonville, WI
38Jayden OnuongaPKFR6' 4"205Forest Lake, MN
39Aaron BickertonPSR6' 3"225Stoke, England
51Caleb McGrathPJR6' 3"205Apple Valley, MN
48CJ AndersonLSSR6' 1"240Elgin, SC
59James NellisGFR6' 3"290Grafton, WI
62Griffin EmpeyGJR6' 3"302Stoughton, WI
66Jack LiwienskiGJR6' 3"297Chanhassen, MN
68Coy OkesonGSO6' 5"310Minot, ND
72Nate SchnecklothGJR6' 5"300Eldridge, IA

Updated Nov 3, 12:25 PM ET. Ratings are in points on a neutral field. Projected lines include — points of home field. Win chances and record odds allow for the ratings themselves being uncertain, most of all early in the season. All FBS power rankings →